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I scowl and glance up at the surveillance camera I know is there. Supposedly, it doesn’t pick up audio, but I won’t take any chances. “It’s complicated. We’ll get to a place of civility at some point. Matteo and I have always butted heads anyway. It makes sense that his girl doesn’t think that highly of me either.”
Zara cocks her head and looks at me with the funniest expression. “Matteo cares a great deal for you. I can see it in the way you interact. And Skylar is really torn up over whatever has caused her to be angry with you. She wants to mend the friendship too.”
I laugh. “I thought you were supposed to be good at reading people. Matteo just tolerates me. Same for Owen. Victor is really the only one I call a close friend.”
She shakes her head. “I haven’t met Owen, but he did a pretty big thing for me just based on your word. That says he more than tolerates you.”
I glare at the numbers flashing above our heads, willing the car to move faster. I don’t like to be psychoanalyzed.
“This is making you uncomfortable. I apologize.”
I throw a tight smile her way. “No need to apologize. It’s just a complicated situation, Flower.”
I don’t know why I insist on calling her that. But tonight, it especially fits.
“Matteo comes from old money. I can tell. What about Owen and Victor?”
“Why so curious about my friends? Trying to bag some new clients?”
She frowns. “No. But I do want to be able to carry myself well in your circle while you’re paying for my time. It’s a skill I’m proud to have, but it only works if I have some basic information.”
The doors slide open, and I offer her my arm again. “Owen definitely comes from old money. His family has been in power for generations. Victor is a bit of a different story. His family rose to power through brute force and the money came later.”
“Like the Bowden’s then.”
I stiffen. “What makes you say that?”
She shrugs. “I did my research when I realized who Oliver was. Your family is… not rich from conventional means and your wealth isn’t generational. And there are some in your circle who think you don’t fit despite your wealth and power.”
This woman is so fucking dangerous. Alarm bells are ringing. She isn’t to be trusted. I can’t just chalk it up to being perceptive. Her insights are too dead-on. Was she planted by whoever took out the mayor? And if so, is she a willing accomplice or an unwitting one?
My mind is spinning so fast that I almost walk right past our restaurant.
“I don’t mean to startle you with my impressions, Mr. Bowden. It just makes more sense to me now why Victor might be your closer friend. You find him more relatable. But trust me, just from the interactions I’ve seen, you’ve got a genuine family with these men.”
The hostess seats us immediately, in a secluded booth near the back of the dining room.
“And what about your family, Zara?” I ask as we settle into our seats.
She smiles. “I have one. It’s perhaps as unconventional as yours is.”
“Siblings? Parents?”
A server pours us water and asks about wine. I decline for both of us and motion to the menus.
When the server disappears, Zara picks hers up and scans it. “I’m uncomfortable talking about this, but since I made you uncomfortable, I guess it’s fair. My parents are both dead, and I have paternal grandparents in London who I see once or twice a year. I also have one sibling, but I definitely won’t be talking about her.”
Interesting. The background I’ve had run on her didn’t pick up a sibling. I’ll have to tell Owen to fire someone.
When we’ve placed our orders, Zara smiles at me. “Enough talk of things that make us uncomfortable. Tell me about High Card. And why did Skylar keep calling it the sandwich shop?”
I smirk because she has no idea where I’m about to take her. On the outside, it does just look like a sandwich shop. But I’ll let her be surprised by that little fact, so I don’t say as much.
“You’ll just have to find out, Flower. But yes, let’s talk about the club. There are some rules.”
I reach into my pocket and pull out a small plastic card and slide it to her. A small black diamond in the shape of a spade is pinned to it. “This is for you to wear tonight. It signifies that you’re with me and you agree to obey me while we are inside the walls of the club. It’s very important for you to hear me when I say disobedience is not tolerated.”
She flips the card over in her hands and examines the small piece of jewelry.
